By Jerry Hays, Deputy Grand Knight
On Sunday, October 14, 2018, Fr. Reginald, Bishop McKnight, and Newman’s Steve Hemmann, will join thousands of other Catholic gentlemen in Jefferson City as full members of the Knights of Columbus in the fourth degree. The members of the Newman Center council congratulate all the new Sir Knights.
The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic men’s organization that was started in 1882 by Fr. Michael J McGivney as a way to unite men of faith and to provide for families of deceased members. The organization models itself on the four principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism (the Knights were instrumental in getting the phrase “under God” included in the pledge of allegiance).
The Mizzou Knights pride ourselves on our charitable activities. In 2017, we were able to give over $8,500 to charities including the parish, Pro-Life groups, the Food Bank, and Special Olympics, to name just a few. We raise the money through tailgating before MU football games, brunches, and our Lenten fish fry.
When it was originally founded, members met once or twice a month for prayer and fellowship. We continue that today, beginning and ending every meeting with prayer. All the decisions we make are based on faith; deciding what organizations to support, where our funds go, how we spend our time together. We celebrate fraternity with SEC muffins, man-mosas, and chili-cheese-brat-burger-dogs (with kraut, of course). We get together for holidays with our families and assist our brothers when the times are tougher.
The Knights of Columbus around the world has fashioned itself as the “strong right arm of the church.” In these times where it is often the church itself that has done much of the harm, the Knights are prepared to stand for the faith that began when Jesus called some fishermen to follow him. Through our Building the Domestic Church campaign, we are focusing on the family, strengthening the bonds that tie us all together in belief that how we live our faith in the parish and community will have a ripple effect that will benefit the world.
We, the Newman Center Knights of Columbus have accomplished great things here at the parish and in the community. Much of that is thanks to you, the Newman parishioners, for attending our events and being generous with your donations. As Jesus said, however, “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few (Luke 10:2).” Simply put, we could use a few more hands. We are able to do so much good, and would be honored to have more of the men of the parish to help do those things. We don’t ask for a lot of your money or much of your time, just what you feel you can give. We are younger fathers and retired grandfathers and have a place for everyone in between. If you are interested or have questions, please email us at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you.